In 1999 Rick Helms and Carolyn Phillips purchased 206.5 acres south of Batesville in Albemarle County, VA. Their valley, at one time an apple orchard, is defined by Castle Rock Mountain on the west and Long Arm Mountain on the east. Roughly 159 acres have been established as a no cut, no development 500-Year Forest that is under easement to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation. In 2005 a consulting forester said he thought it very unusual to see so much mature hardwood forest on one site.